Exploring Travel Patterns During the 2024 Solar Eclipse using De-identified Mobility Data

July 19, 2024

Hui-Jeong-Ha-and-Dr.-Jed-Long-.pngOn April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse captivated North America, and the path of totality stretched across several Canadian provinces. A recent study from Western University has shed a light on how this once-in-a-lifetime celestial event influenced broad-scale travel patterns in Canada. Led by PhD student Hui Jeong Ha and Dr. Jed Long from the university’s Department of Geography and Environment, this new research offers a detailed analysis of travel patterns using aggregated and de-identified network mobility data from TELUS through their award-winning, internationally Privacy by Design-certified (ISO 31700-1)- TELUS Data for Good program.

Published in the online journal Transport Findings, the study used de-identified network mobility data to estimate that nearly over 600,000 Canadians travelled to areas within the path of totality during the solar eclipse. Ontario was a major destination for travellers to catch a glimpse of the total solar eclipse, especially areas near Lake Erie such as Niagara Falls, Port Stanley, Burlington and Hamilton. This study not only recognized where people went, but also analyzed where they came from. It was found that the number of travellers decreased as the distance from the path of totality increased, and highlighted how far people were willing to travel for a unique experience; traveller counts decreased greatly after about 75 km from the path of totality.

The research showcases the power of using aggregated and de-identified mobility data to uncover detailed insights about human mobility patterns during large-scale events. Understanding these patterns can be incredibly valuable for future transportation planning, urban planning, resource allocation, and emergency planning in response to disruptive natural events.

Article https://findingspress.org/article/120803-human-mobility-patterns-during-the-2024-total-solar-eclipse-in-canada